Colo. Lt. Gov. Rogers Mulls Congress

Published 8:00 pm, Thursday, January 3, 2002

Lt. Gov. Joe Rogers, one of the nation's highest-ranking black Republicans, says he will likely seek the state's new congressional seat rather than run for re-election.

Rogers said his decision against a re-election bid had nothing to do with his high-profile clashes with Gov. Bill Owens, who is expected to seek a second term this fall.

"Bill and I talked early on about a new congressional seat for Colorado," Rogers said Thursday. "We're both confident I'll be a candidate for U.S. Congress."

Rogers' announcement came after months of speculation over whether Owens would choose him as his running mate. Their disagreements had prompted the Legislature to pass a law allowing the governor to pick his own running mate rather than the two running on separate tickets in the primary and then joining for the election.

Owens, 51, would not comment on Rogers' statement. Earlier this week, he told The Associated Press that Rogers was ready to be his own boss.

Colorado gained its 7th U.S. House seat due to population growth during the 1990s. The district's boundaries have not been drawn.

Rogers, 37, ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1996. In 1998, he was credited with helping Owens squeak out a victory to become the state's first GOP governor in 24 years.

The Rev. Gill Ford, regional director for the NAACP, said Rogers' departure will leave a void since he is the country's highest ranking, state-elected black politician.